Martin Mutch is co-founder of Rocela, the UK’s fastest growing enterprise application consultancy specialising in helping clients with complex software environments get the best value out of their enterprise application investment. Established in 2011 and headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, and with offices in Knutsford (outside Manchester), Rocela employed 75 staff and has worked with 5 of the top 10 global banks, many FTSE100 companies, oil & gas, retail, manufacturing and pan-European utility organisations, as well as UK Police and Local Government Authorities.
In January 2014 Rocela Group was acquired by Irish owned IT Services Company, Version 1 for an undisclosed sum.
Martin was winner of The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for 2007.
From a £10k start-up investment, success for Rocela came quickly as the unique offering proved compelling to industry giants such as BP, RBS and Diageo. Within two years the business had generated over £1m free cash with no lendings and held an enviable global client list.
After 12 years the business had made and integrated one acquisition, taken growth equity from its own bankers and put in place a proven management team across its two divisions of 75 staff, bought back its equity from BoS, gone international and retreated from international. Success continued as did accolades including both Sunday Times Fastrack and Techtrack, Sunday Times Best Places to Work, Great Workplaces, Deloitte Fast 50 and 500 and many industry specific awards.
Martin is also Founder of the Retina Scottish International Photography Festival, putting together a top team and some personal funding, with the inaugural festival launched across major venues in July 2014 and will take place again in July 2015.
Martin is still involved in Retina, which goes from strength to strength, but he is now being drawn once again into start-ups. Currently he has multiple investments in early stage and start-up tech companies and acts as an advisor to several. He is an advisor to Par Equity and Scotland IS. He also works as an Ambassador for Wedo Scotland in supporting local entrepreneurs through sharing and networking. He is never happier than helping entrepreneurial teams and is always delighted to tell tales of his own blunders, mistakes, weak points and key learnings.
In between festivals, coaching, investing, advising and judging, Martin finds time for his family of 3 girls, his own photography, travel and he has also rediscovered a passion for cycling. When pushed he’ll usually admit to doodling ideas for new start-ups himself.
